Illness Response in Nigeria–An Inter-Tribal Study

Almost sixty-three percent of the study sample consisting of 3 major Nigerian Tribes, indicated that they would seek medical care without delay at the onset of an illness. While, about 33 percent would delay health care and less than 5 percent would perform some other activity. Those individuals who delayed health care were mainly women, muslems or traditional worshippers, non-civil servants, Yorubas, rural residents, respondents with low level of education and middle aged individuals. There was statistically significant relationships between these demongraphic characteristics and respondent's delay in seeking health care at onset of illness (P <. 01). The relationship between income levels and delay in seeking health care was not statistically significant (P <.25).